The Wilmingtonian., 1887-02-26
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2s, 1887.
Russia and England.


portaut p;cce of State tactics has been sue
csssfully enacted by the British government
in the name Of the Empress Queen. Fifty
thousand debtors aud other prisoners have
been given their freedom by royal decree as
mark of imperial favor at the moment Of
the celebration of The fiftietb anniversary Of
vietoria's reign.
Though the measure has been laughed at,
even sneered at as piece OF empty pictur-
esqIe orientalism worthy only OF the states
insuship of the lashy era Of Lord Bsacons
field there can be little doubt Of Its having
served its purpose excellently will.
AS European and Americans would look
at the incident it has much of the empty
superficial appearance referred to, but in
Oriental countries such as Hindostau it is Of
special import. 1t is an Oriental custom,
and that means great deal more than what
we Westerners would consider. Were this
act OF imperial clemeBcy omitted the natives
would have greater difficulty in compre-
bending the fast OF the omission then we
can of sppreciating liz enactment.
From time innumemorial among all th,
rulers Of those old lands this custom ofarge.
ly extended clemency has obtained in exact
ly such similar connection as that just trans
pired, What right would the England gov
ernment have to infringe upon The customs
Of the people. On the contrary by f,eeiue
those thousands of natives the ruling power
in Iudia has drawn closer The bonds Of Fl lend
" feeling between the rulers and tho ruled.
1t would have been critical matter consid-
eripg the position Of England and Russia at
this moment TO have done otherwise than
coucilate tue natives.
Russia's quarrel with England is entirely
Independent Of any European entauglement.
4 clash between those two countries is far
surer event Of the future than even that be-
tween France ard Germany. Eaglaud's
business at this momeut is to solidiCy AZ
much as possible her status in India. Aud
ths,rcecnt mea' ure is most polite move
ment in coaSonance with that idea. Sh.
las according tu the latest kilograms com
inenced extending her frontier military rail
road as near the Afghsnistan northern lines
as strategy dcmaLds. Russia has done th.
same from the north. The inevitable con.
tict Of Sikh cayalrytnan aud sepoy against
Cussaok aud Turcoman is drawing nigh,
England will require at the least computa-
tiJn 100000 native Indian soldiers TO meet
the myrads that Russia will bring down
from the moth and the coufiues OF the Cas-
plan. The native Afghans and Beloochees
will muster upop the British side, in simple
defence Of the integrity Of their country, t.
keep it free from Russia annexation. Bui
their services will be Of little valuc, tscrp,
as guerilas, against the regular and hrrgu,
lar Russian troops.
kusSia is intent upon gaining Cuu,t tauti
Rople, is much more impressed with the ne
eessity Of that requirement than Of satinp
the dislike and distrust that her army has
ior Germany. The Russian government W III
not allow sentiment OF the kind referred
to, to interfere with her ancient schemes of
territorial sggrand;zemeut.
On the one side she will make the bargain
with Bismarck that II Germany does not ill.,
teTiere with Russia's Balkan and Bulgarian
schemcs aud will refuse TO countenance Aus,
iIla in its opposition to Panslavlsm she will
make the promise of not interfering in aid
Of France when that country makes it,
Threatened attack uron Alsace aud Lorraine,
This will leave Russia free TO attack En-.
gland aud Austria in combination.
Bat in opposition to all this England has
made her arrangements which look equally
polite aud formidable.
Italy has been asked u join With Euslar 4
aud Austria. She has accepted the over.
lures with avidity as the latter tw o coun, q,
Will make no opposition TO ItaDy's Hank at.
'ack IN France, wheu that county nuSys OF
Germany. 10. ro'Iuceed the ancient Italian
province Ot Nice now held by France. II
will be remembered that that province wa.
stolen from Italy By the first Napoleon, anc
since the time OF United Itsly's first great
statesman Cavour, has oeeu looked upor
With hungry eyes by the people Of the Penn
inc peninsula
1t may be readily steU how that German,
would not be averse to this arrangement or
the overt principle that any measure that in,
pedes France is de6uite help to Germany
Amid all these plots aud contemplating.
"t statesman and the arranging upon uppos
ing sides OF tue different countries. 1t ma,
be seen how it is Of absolute Ii, &c .sity tha,
England strengthens her isolated position
N the far East. Iu this, her donesii,
management Of atfsirs iu Hindosta,
anything that will solidify her statns will
tha natives OF India is Of paramount import
suce at this juncture How much more i'm
portaut is II then 20 see that noue of the an
cient lUmemorial local customs are no
rudely overlooked. The act Of clemency a
last week was one not only necessary iD ,